Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao, whose alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct led the Election Commission to withdraw permission for disbursement of Rythu Bandhu Scheme funds, on Monday accused the Congress of making the “anti-farmer” complaint to the poll body.
“The Congress treats farmers as vote banks. When they are in power, they will not give a single penny to farmers, but will raise objections if KCR gives Rythu Bandhu. This decision was taken after Congress leader G Niranjan complained to the EC,” Rao alleged.
Earlier on Monday, the EC withdrew permission given to the Telangana government for disbursement of financial aid to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, saying Rao had violated the provisions of the Model Code by making a public announcement that the money would be credited by a certain date before Telangana elections on November 30. “The disbursement will be made on Monday. Even before the farmers complete their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited into their account,” he had reportedly said.
Though the Election Commission said the decision was taken after Rao’s speech was reported widely in the media, Harish Rao, in his rebuttal, blamed the Congress for plugging financial aid to farmers. He alleged the EC took the decision on the basis of a complaint sent by G Niranjan, senior vice-president of Telangana Congress.
Niranjan hit back at the BRS leader, saying he never asked the EC to stop the disbursal of funds to farmers. “Yes, I brought it (Rao’s speech) to the notice of the Election Commission, but it did not mention my complaint in its notice. I never asked the EC to stop Rythu Bandhu (funds). I had made a complaint on the basis of a speech he (Rao) had made during an election campaign,” Niranjan told News18.
The Congress leader also shared the contents of the letter sent to EC:
Dated: 26-11-2023
To,
Sri Rajiv Kumar,
Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan
New Delhi
Sir,
Sub: Election Commission permission for
Rythu Bandhu – Direction to BRS
Party- not to use in Election
campaign – Regarding.
The Election Commission of India on the last Friday allowed the State Government to disburse amounts to farmers under Rythu Bandhu Scheme which is being misused by the BRS Party for their political benefit. Every BRS leader is making this as a tool to influence the voters as they are giving it from their own pockets. They are blaming Congress Party as it obstructed the disbursement, which is not correct. While attacking the Congress Party in an election campaign at Mahabubabad and Aleru, Sri T Harish Rao, Minister blamed the Congress Party as it created obstructions and said that Election Commission granted permission for the disbursement and an amount of Rs 7500 crores is ready per disbursement.
He further said as three days are holidays and on Tuesday morning by the time you complete your breakfast your cellphones will ring to inform you that Rythubandhu amount has been credited to your bank account. This is how the generous permission granted by the EC is being misused by the BRS Party.
HENCE WE REQUEST YOUR GOOD SELF TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON BRS PARTY NOT TO MENTION ABOUT THE RYTHU BANDHU DISBURSEMENTS IN THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING.
This is very much needed for having a free and fair poll in the State.
Hope EC will respond to our request immediately.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely
G.Niranjan
G Niranjan, along with two other Congress leaders, Ajoy Kumar Ghosh and M Ramachandra Reddy, had also written to the EC on November 21 alleging that IT minister K Taraka Rama Rao was “misusing his official power in utilizing the government premises i.e., T-Hub premises for his election campaign”. On November 26, the minister received a notice from the EC regarding the same.
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